Improvement in horse-collars



W. THORN.

Horse-Collar.

Patented June 8,1875.

,ATENT OEEIGE.

WILLIAM J. THOR-N, OF WESTBROOK, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-COLLARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,342, dated June 8,1875 application filed November 18, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concer-n Be it known that I, WTLLIAM J. THoEN, ofWestbrook, Cumberland county, Maine, have invented certain Improvementsrelating to Horse Collars, of which the following is a specification Theinvention consists in peculiarities pertaining to the hook or fasteningfor the traces and breeching. It also consists in peculiarities in thefastening of the two parts of the collar together. The breeching or thepole-strap may be secured to an eye in the same piece of metal as formsthe hook by which the traces are attached. I employ an inverted U shapedbolt, with arms of unequal length. By pushing up the long arrn againstthe force of the spring the short arm withdraws and disengages theparts. A shield is extended down alongside of the projecting end of thelong arm to prevent the bolt being pressed up by accident.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out theinvention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of the collarcomplete. Fig. 3 represents the mode of applying together the severalpieces of `wood to form one of the halves. Figs. 4 and 5 are on a largerscale. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the fastening at the bottom ofthe collar. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a portion thereof,showing the provisions for varying the size of the collar.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The body of the collar is made of rigid, or approximately rigid,material. Each half is preferably constructed by providing two or morestrips of wood of moderate thickness, and after steaming them andbending to the proper form, gluing them together and upon a rigid piecefitted on the inner or hollow side, and also secured by bolt or rivets.The blank thus formed is afterward rounded to the proper shape, andproperly hinged together at the top. These parts are marked A A. Thehinge at the top is marked a, and the metallic pieces secured thereto atthe bottom are marked, respectively, C and D. The part C is recessed onone side with two or more recesses, c1 c2.

The part D is adapted to receive the part C within itself, and has asingle recess, d. When the collar is applied on the neck of a horse,`

and the part C is inserted into the part D to the proper extent to bringthe recess d to coincide with either the recess c1 or c2, a sufficientcavity is provided to receive the short arm of the inverted U-shapedbolt, marked E. The long arm of this bolt is mounted and guided in thepart D, and is equipped with the head E on the lower end of the longarm, which receives the force of the coiled spring G, housed within thearm D, and which tends to depress the bolt E, and force its head E toprotrude considerably below the bottom of the collar. A shield, D',extends downward alongside of and partially inclosing the head E. M is ametallic forging or casting, having a wide head upon a hook, m, adaptedto receive a long eye on a trace, (not represented,) and to prevent itsbecoming disengaged by any accident. It can only be disengaged by beingcarefully turned into a certain position, which is very different fromthat which it is likely to assume when it is in use. Below it is arectangular eye, m', adapted to serve as a fastening for thebreechingstrap or for the pole-strap; or this eye may serve simply as aguide for the breeching-strap, the wide eye m being smooth ly finished,and the breeching-strap being led through it to the pole or to thecross-yoke or evener, to which lthe pole-strap is connected. In case theeye m is used for the pole-strap alone, the breeching be buckled to thetugs or traces, as is frequently practiced. I will, however, in futurerefer to this broad rectangular eye m as simply an eye for thebreeching, the other uses being understood. This fastening M is firmlysecured by screwbolts or otherwise to the wood A of the col lar. Thefastening (l D E formed in the several notches c1 c2 allows the collarto be very easily engaged and disengaged. Its fastening is very secure.and it may be made to fit upon two widely differing sizes of necks. Bymaking more of the cavities c1 c2 a greater range of sizes may beobtained.

Io open the collar, the thumb is applied against the projecting head E',and it is pushed upward within or alongside of the shield D until theshort arm of the bolt is detached from the part C. Then the collar maybe opened and applied upon the animal. and a reversing of the detachingprocess causes it to be again engaged.

The spring G keeps the bolt E constantly down in a locking position,exceptl when it is forcibly pressed upward. 'Ille shield D prevents itfrom being afl'ected by any blow or chance pressure against any object.

The tugs or traces (not represented) may he connected and disconnectedwith little labor from the hooks M, While they remain securely engagedso long as may be desired.

The brecching-strap (not represented) fastened to the same iron by meansof the eye m promotes the simplicity of the construction. It avoids thenecessity for the multiplication of irons and attachments.

My collar may be prepared with any desired guttin g or padding. It maybe decorated and tted with any terrets.

Witnesses:

W. C. DEY, M. A. VAN NAMEE.

